Hon Chris Penk is a New Zealand politician currently serving as Minister of Defence and Member of Parliament, most recently representing the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate [37][40][49].
Penk was educated at Kelston Boys' High School [29] and subsequently studied at the University of Auckland [31], where he is reported to have pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Linguistics [3] and, according to a single reputable secondary source, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree [4].
Following his studies, Penk served as an officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy from around 2000 [6][16], including a role as officer of the watch on HMNZS Te Kaha, with sources placing this from at least 2000 [17]. According to a single reputable secondary source, he also served as an aide-de-camp to Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright [23][24]. He later served as a naval officer in the Australian Navy from around 2004 [5][11], with a single reputable secondary source indicating he served as navigating officer on HMAS Sheean from around 2004–2006 [13][14], and was stationed in the Northern Arabian Gulf from 2007 [1][20].
After his naval career, Penk qualified as a lawyer [9][18], working as a staff solicitor in Auckland from 2010 [19] and later as a Senior Solicitor at Hornabrook Macdonald Lawyers, according to a single reputable secondary source [7]. He is confirmed to have worked as a property lawyer [18] and, according to a single reputable secondary source, co-founded a law firm [26].
Penk is affiliated with the National Party [52]. He stood as a National Party candidate for the Kelston electorate in 2014 [50] and, according to a single reputable secondary source, served as electorate chair for Paula Bennett in Waitakere [25]. He was elected to Parliament as the Member for Helensville in 2017 [39]. He has held the offices of Associate Minister of Defence [34], Associate Minister of Immigration [35], Minister for Building and Construction [44], Minister for Land Information [45], and Minister for Veterans [48]. Sources differ on the precise start date of his tenure as Minister of Defence — some place it from 2 April 2026 [49], while a single reputable secondary source indicates 1 April 2026 [36]. According to single reputable secondary sources, he has also held the roles of Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service from 7 April 2026 [42][43], and Minister for Space [47].